Description

This is an advanced course that explores the interface between evolutionary biology and developmental biology. In addition to considering how developmental pathways evolve, and the developmental basis of phenotypic evolution, we will ask what novel insights emerge from a synthesis of these fields. Major topics to be considered include the following: developmental constraints, homology, plasticity, novelty and evolvability.

Announcements and Handouts

It's time to begin the conversations about project topics. We'd like everyone to have a topic approved by Sept. 20. You can initiate conversations with us by email or in person. Cera, Nora, Ellen, Wei: your primary contact is Carl. Dister, Nasim, Jeff, Tim: your primary contact is Elizabeth.

Discussion leaders: Please email a pdf with discussion questions to both Elizabeth and Carl. In the ideal world, this would happen no later than Tuesday night of the week you will present. we will post it on the website.

Expectations and Grading

This course has a mixed lecture/discussion format. In general, Tuesdays will be used for lectures that provide an overview and background information. Thursdays will be dedicated to student-led discussion based on reading from the literature. We expect everyone to participate actively in the class. In order to help prepare for discussions, you should write a brief (<1 page) reaction piece to each set of readings, highlighting your thoughts about the readings, connections between them or questions raised by them. This will be handed in each week. Responsibility for leading the discussions will rotate.
You are expected to complete an independent project on a topic of your choice. Ideally, your topic will be closely connected to your own research interests, and also integrate multiple topics covered in class . You should discuss your choice of topics with one of us no later than Friday, Sept. 20. To help you stay on track, an outline and relevant references are due on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The final project paper is due by Monday Nov. 25, and the last week of class will be devoted to presentations and discussions based on these projects.
There will be one take-home exam due the day of the Final Exam. It will consist of one or several essay questions that will ask you to integrate the knowledge that you have acquired during the course.

Discussion Readings:
Zhang, R., C. C. Guo, et al. 2013. Disruption of the petal identity gene APETALA3-3 is highly correlated with loss of petals within the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110: 5074-5079. 10.1073/pnas.1219690110

Week 9 (Oct. 22/24): Morphospace (CS)

Arbour & Lopez-Fernandez. 2013. Ecological variation in South American geophagine cichlids arose during an early burst of adaptive morphological and functional evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 280: 20130849.

Roelants et al. 2011. Anuran radiations and the evolution of tadpole morphospace. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 108: 8731-8736. 10.1073/pnas.1100633108

Week 11 (Nov. 5/7): Robustness and plasticity (CS)

Discussion Leader: Tim
Discussion Readings:

Scoville, A. G. and M. Pfrender. 2010. Phenotypic plasticity facilitates recurrent rapid adaptation to introduced predators. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107: 4260-4263. 10.1073/pnas.0912748107.
link

Week 13 (Nov. 19/21): Case studies (EJ) and heterochrony (CS)

Discussion Leader: Class--email a question to Elizabeth
Discussion Readings: Let'st just focus on the future, instead of case studies. So forget about Arnoult et al. (with apologies to those of you who have already read it).

Week 14 (Nov. 26/28): Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 15 (Dec. 3/5): Project Presentations

Here's the presentation order. Of course, any swap that is mutually agreeable to you is fine with us. Talks should be 15 min., with 5 min. for questions. Please add your title and suggest a background reading. (Dister and Wei: email that information and we'll add it for you).

Tuesday, December 3

Cera: How does development evolve under selection for signaling morphology? suggested reading

Ellen: The evolution of developmental plasticity in the introduced range of an invasive species suggested reading